摘要: ABSTRACT Within the restructuring of public sector there is a complex process involving challenges to professional practice. This paper seeks describe and understand this through analysing integration commercial contracting into practice status headteachers. It argued that key feature training context in which critical evaluation National Standards for Headteachers combined with Professional Qualification (NPQH) located. Commercial being overlain on top democratic notions practices social contract, centrist determined NPQH assessment pluralist development opportunities. Aspiring in‐post headteachers are presented model contractual leadership tension educational values it as consequence alternative more humane traditions marginalised